We ran an MRI scan on BBC’s Sophie Raworth’s hips and knees…

…and she wrote about the experience in Runner’s World

image (c) Runners World

Sophie Raworth is best known as a senior BBC newsreader and journalist - but she is also well recognised in the running community. Sophie discovered running in her late 30s and now has almost 20 marathons under her belt.

Writing in Runner’s World magazine, she said she felt surprisingly apprehensive about the prospect of an MRI scan from the Exercise for Science team:

“Since I took up running more than a decade ago, my knees have always felt fine. I’ve had my fair share of injuries, but my bones and joints have always felt like they’re coping with the load.

“Recently, though, a strange crackling noise has begun emanating from my knees when I go upstairs. I’ve convinced myself it’s the running. Lying inside this machine, I’m bracing myself for bad news.”

Spreading the word about Exercise for Science’s findings

Fortunately, Sophie’s worries were unfounded. Her scan revealed ‘pretty perfect knees’ and strong muscles.

Her article explains how Exercise for Science was originally inspired by Professor Hart’s own marathon-running experiences, and our work to explore the effects of exercise on the muscles and joints.

Professor Hart is quoted, saying: “It looks like running, even up to marathon level, is actually good for the bones. It strengthens them. And this, in turn, is good for the cartilage; we really didn’t expect that at all.

“It’s a common fear that running will damage the joints. But it now looks like the opposite is true.”

Sophie ends her article by confirming that she has signed up for more races this year, knowing that her joints are more than capable of carrying her along.